Apparatus and method for holding products

ABSTRACT

In the specification and drawings an apparatus and method for holding a product is described and shown with a humidor; a pusher mechanism located within the humidor, the pusher mechanism having a width adjustable channel; and a plurality of cigar tubos located within the channel.

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/740,931, filed Oct. 3, 2018, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

II. FIELD OF INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention pertains to apparatuses and methods forholding products, including storing, dispensing, and/or displayingproducts.

III. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is directed to apparatuses and methodsfor holding products. For example, an embodiment can include a case,container or other support structure, such as a humidor, with a systemfor storing, dispensing, and/or displaying a product being locatedwithin, connected to, or otherwise associated with the case, container,or other support structure.

IV. BACKGROUND

Cigars are often sold in boxes, tubos, or other forms. A tubo iscylindrical container (usually made of glass or a metal such asaluminum) which contains a single cigar. In box form, tubo form, orotherwise, cigars are often stored or otherwise held in humidors, whichcan provide favorable humidity and temperature levels for storingcigars.

In a retail environment where cigars are sold, such as a grocery store,a tobacco store, a bar, or a restaurant, space is often at a premium. Itis often important that the space devoted to something (e.g. a product),especially large amounts of space, is profitable and/or drives customerexperience which leads to sales.

Traditionally, cigars have predominantly been displayed in their boxesin humidors. The boxes often either lie flat on shelving, or at a slightangle, with the lid of the box open to display the product to consumers.A challenge with storing cigars either flat or nearly flat is that thespace above the shelf is essentially “dead air,” and is valuable spacethat is lost.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front right exploded perspective view of an embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 is a top front right perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 3 is a top front right perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 6 is a top front right exploded perspective view of an embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 7 is a top front right perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 8 is a bottom front right perspective view of an embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 9 is a top front left exploded perspective view of an embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 10 is a bottom front right exploded perspective view of anembodiment described herein.

FIG. 11 is a front exploded view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 12 is a back exploded view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 13 is a top exploded view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 14 is bottom exploded view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 15 is a left side exploded view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 16 is a right side exploded view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 17 is a top front right exploded perspective view of an embodimentdescribed herein.

FIG. 18 is a front view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 19 is a back view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 20 is a top view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 22 is a left side view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 23 is a right side view of an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 24 is a top front right perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 25 is a top front left perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 26 is a top back left perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 27 is a top front left perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 28 is a top back left perspective view of an embodiment describedherein.

FIG. 29 is a bottom front left perspective view of an embodimentdescribed herein.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in variousforms. As such, any feature(s) used in one embodiment can be used inanother embodiment. Therefore, specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butmerely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentinvention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further,the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, butrather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. Whilethe specification concludes with claims defining the features of theinvention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the inventionwill be better understood from a consideration of the followingdescription in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which likereference numerals are carried forward.

Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spiritor the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements ofexemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detailor will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of theinvention.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one ormore than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as twoor more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The terms“connected” and/or “coupled,” as used herein, are defined as connected,although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the likemay be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from anotherentity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actualsuch relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms“comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intendedto cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not includeonly those elements but may include other elements not expressly listedor inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An elementproceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints,preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

As used herein, the term “about” or “approximately” applies to allnumeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These termsgenerally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art wouldconsider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the samefunction or result). In many instances these terms may include numbersthat are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

Herein various embodiments of the present invention are described. Inmany of the different embodiments, features are similar. Therefore, toavoid redundancy, repetitive description of these similar features maynot be made in some circumstances. It shall be understood, however, thatdescription of a first-appearing feature applies to the later describedsimilar feature and each respective description, therefore, is to beincorporated therein without such repetition.

Described now are exemplary embodiments of the present invention.Referring now to the drawings, beginning with FIGS. 1 to 7, an exemplaryembodiment of a product holding apparatus 10 is shown. In an embodiment,the product holding apparatus 10 can include a humidor 12. One or morepusher mechanisms 14 can be located in the humidor 12. A pushermechanism is shown, for example, in FIGS. 8 to 24.

In an embodiment, the pusher mechanism 14 can include a channel 16. Insome embodiments, the channel 16 has a width 18 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) thatcan be adjusted, which, for example, can be used in order to allow thechannel to accommodate products of varying widths. For example, as shownin FIG. 4, the width 18 of the channel 16 has been adjusted to have alarger width (e.g. 1.150 inches). In comparison, in FIG. 5, the width 18of the channel 16 has been adjusted to have a smaller width (e.g. 0.700inches). In an embodiment, the width 18 of the channel 16 is adjustablefrom a width of about 1.150 inches (29.21 millimeters) to a width ofabout 0.700 inches (17.78 millimeters).

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, in an embodiment the product holdingapparatus 10 can hold products 20, such as cigars, tubos containingcigars, tobacco accessories, or other products. In an embodiment,tobacco accessories can include items such as butane cylinders,lighters, cigar cutters, matches, or other accessories. As used herein,holding products can include holding, displaying, and/or dispensingproducts. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, a humidor 12 is shownwhich contains multiple tubos 22 of various widths. In FIGS. 3 and 7, inaddition to tubos 22, the products shown also include butane cylinders24.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8 to 24, the pusher mechanism 14 can include afirst side member (e.g. left side member 15) and a second side member(e.g. right side member 17), with the space between the left side member15 and the right side member 17 defining the channel 16. The pushermechanism 14 can also include a channel width adjustment mechanism 26,which can be used to adjust the width 18 of the channel 16. The channelwidth adjustment mechanism 26 can include one or more series of ridgesand grooves 28 on the left side member 15, and one or more series ofridges and grooves 28 on the right side member 17. In an embodiment,when the pusher mechanism 14 is assembled (see e.g. FIGS. 8 and 18 to24), ridges and grooves 28 on the right side member 17 can engage withcomplimentary ridges and grooves 28 on the left side member 15 in aratcheting manner, thus allowing the width 18 of the channel 16 to beadjusted by moving the left side member 15 and the right side member 17towards each other or away from each other.

The channel width adjustment mechanism 26 can also include slits 30 onthe left side member 15, and complimentary pins 32 on the right sidemember 17. In embodiments where the pusher mechanism 14 is assembled,the pins 32 engage with the slits 30, with the pins 32 traveling throughthe slits 30 as the width 18 of the channel 16 is adjusted. In anembodiment, the slits 30 and corresponding pins 32 can prevent the width18 of the channel 16 from being adjusted beyond a certain maximum width,since when the pin 32 reaches the end of the slit 30 (as shown e.g. inFIG. 21), the pin 32 contacts the end of the slit 30 and therebyprevents the left side member 15 and the right side member 17 from beingmoved any further apart from each other.

In an embodiment, the pusher mechanism 14 can include a spring loadedpusher system that can be used to push products 20 from the rear of thechannel 16 towards the front of the channel 16. For example, referringto the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 and 9 to 29, the pusher mechanism14 can include a pusher tab 34 that is slidably engaged with a track 36,such that the pusher tab 34 can slide along the track 36 between thefront 38 of the track 36 and the rear 40 of the track 36. In theembodiments depicted in FIGS. 1, 20, 24, and 28, the pusher tab 34 islocated near the front 38 of the track 36. In the embodiments depictedin FIGS. 6, 9, 13, 17, 25, and 26, the pusher tab 34 is located near therear 40 of the track 36. A spring 42 (shown in FIGS. 19 and 25 to 29)can be engaged between the pusher tab 34 and the track 36, such that theforce exerted by the spring 42 biases the pusher tab 34 to slide towardsthe front 38 of the track 36.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 25 to 29, the spring 42 can be a variableforce coil spring. A first end of the spring 42, along with a coiledportion of the spring 42, is housed in a cavity 44 in the rear side ofthe pusher tab 34. From there, as the spring 42 uncoils, the spring 42first travels through an aperture 46, and then extends along the topsurface of the track 36. As the spring approaches the front 38 of thetrack 36, the spring passes through an opening 47 in the top surface ofthe track. The spring 42 then extends along the bottom surface of thetrack 36 to a point where the second end of the spring 42 attaches to amounting post 48 that is secured to the bottom surface of the track (asshown in FIG. 29).

In an embodiment, the spring 42 can be a variable force spring, suchthat the force exerted by the spring 42 decreases as the pusher tab 34moves towards the front 38 of the track 36. For example, in operation,each time a product 20 is removed from the channel 16, the amount ofproducts 20 that remains within the channel 16 is decreased (andtherefore the combined weight of the products 20 within the channel 16is reduced). The variable force spring 42 can account for the reducingweight of the products 20, since the force exerted by the spring 42 isreduced as products 20 are removed from the channel 16 and the pushertab 34 moves towards the front of the channel 16. In an embodiment, thespring 42 can be removed from the pusher mechanism 14 and replaced witha stronger or weaker spring in order to accommodate heavier or lighterproducts 20 that may be housed within the channel 16.

In an embodiment, the pusher mechanism 14 can include a ramp 50 at theend of the track 36 that can force a product 20 in an upward directionas the product 20 is moved towards the front 38 of the track 36. Thepusher mechanism can also include guide ribs 52 on the left side member15 and the right side member 17, which can assist in guiding a product20 as it slides through the channel 16. The guide ribs 52 can also allowirregular shaped products 20, such as a tubo with a cylinder diameter ofe.g. 1.0 inches and a cap diameter of e.g. 1.1 inches, to slide throughthe channel 16 with the guide ribs 52 contacting the cylinder portion ofthe tubo and thereby providing clearance space between the left sidemember 15 and the right side member 17 for the wider cap portion of thetubo.

In an embodiment, such as an embodiment where one or more pushermechanisms 14 are located within a humidor 12, a mounting plate 54 canbe secured to the shelf of a humidor 12, for example with screws 56. Oneor more pusher mechanisms 14 can be aligned and secured within thehumidor 12 by placing the pusher mechanism 14 onto the mounting plate54, such that the vertical tab 58 of the mounting plate 54 rests in andengages with a slot 60 of the pusher mechanism 14. The humidor 12 canalso include an angled platform 62, which can be used, for example, todisplay a box of cigars within the humidor 12 by placing a box of cigarson the angled platform 62. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, the humidor 12can also include a banner attachment 64 which can be secured to a shelfof the humidor 12. In an embodiment, the banner attachment 64 can beused to display advertising or other marketing materials.

In an embodiment, the humidor 12 can include one or more sensors fordetecting certain conditions, and can include the capabilitycommunicating with a remote location via wired or wireless communicationmeans. For example, the humidor 12 can include sensor(s) which candetermine the amount of product 20 remaining in the humidor, and cantransmit a signal to a remote location in the event that the amount of aproduct 20 remaining in the humidor 12 dips below a preset level. Asanother example, the humidor 12 can also include sensor(s) which canmonitor the level of humidity in the humidor 12, and can transmit asignal to a remote location in the event that level of humidity withinthe humidor moves above or below certain preset levels.

In operation of an embodiment, a humidor 12 is fitted with multiplepusher mechanisms 14 by securing the slot 60 of the pusher mechanism tothe vertical tab 58 of the mounting plate 54. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, 8 pusher mechanisms 14 are secured to the bottom shelf of thehumidor 12, 17 pusher mechanisms 14 are secured to the middle shelf ofthe humidor 12, and 16 pusher mechanisms are secured to the top shelf ofthe humidor 12. A variety of products 20, for example tubos 22, are thenselected to be housed within the humidor 12. For example, in FIG. 2,four different types (e.g. brands) of tubos 22 have been selected forthe bottom shelf of the humidor 12. Starting from the left, the firsttype of tubos 22 are housed within the first and second pushermechanisms 14, the second type of tubos 22 are housed within the thirdand fourth pusher mechanisms 14, the third type of tubos 22 are housedwithin the fifth and sixth pusher mechanisms 14, and the fourth type oftubos 22 are housed within the seventh and eighth pusher mechanisms 14.

On the bottom shelf of FIG. 2, each type of tubo 22 has a width that isdifferent from the other three types. Prior to placing the tubos 20within the channel 16 of a given pusher mechanism 14, the width 18 ofthe channel 16 is adjusted (as described above) to account for the widthof the particular type of tubo 22 that will be housed within the channel16. Similarly, the width 18 of the channels 16 of the remaining pushermechanisms 14 is adjusted to account for the width of the particulartypes of tubos 22 that will be housed within those channels 16. A seriesof tubos 22 (e.g. 20 tubos) of the same type are then loaded into thechannel 16 of a given pusher mechanism 14, with the series of tubos 22being arranged vertically in a line from the front 38 of the track 36towards the rear 48 of the track 36, with the last (i.e. rear) tubo 22in the line being in contact with the pusher tab 34. In such anarrangement, the spring 42—via the pusher tab 34—biases the entire lineof tubos 22 towards the front 38 of the track. In operation, as a user(e.g. a customer, employee, or other individual) removes the first (e.g.front) tubo 22 in the line from the channel 16, the pusher tab 34 pushesthe reaming tubos 22 in the line towards the front 38 of the track 36until the next tubo 22 in the line is forced up the ramp 50 and reachesthe front end of the track 36. By this process, in an embodiment, tubos22 will always be positioned at the front end of the track 36 (andtherefore will be displayed as close as possible to the front of thehumidor 12), until the last tubo 22 in the line is removed from thechannel 16.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate theprinciples, exemplary embodiments, and modes of operation of theinvention. However, the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additionalvariations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art and the above-described embodiments should beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it shouldbe appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for holding a product comprising: a) a humidor;b) a pusher mechanism located within said humidor, said pusher mechanismhaving a width adjustable channel; and c) a plurality of cigar tuboslocated within said channel.
 2. The apparatus for holding a product ofclaim 1 wherein said pusher mechanism further comprises a channel widthadjustment mechanism.
 3. The apparatus for holding a product of claim 1wherein said pusher mechanism further comprises a first side member anda second side member, with a space between said first side member andsaid right side member defining said channel.
 4. The apparatus forholding a product of claim 3 wherein said first side member and saidsecond side member each comprise a least one ridge and at least onegroove, said ridge of said first side member being engaged with saidgroove of said second side member, and said ridge of said second sidemember being engaged with said groove of said first side member.
 5. Theapparatus for holding a product of claim 4 wherein said first sidemember comprises a slit and said second side member comprises a pin,said pin being slidably engaged with said slit.
 6. The apparatus forholding a product of claim 5, wherein said slit further comprises a slitend, such that a contact of said pin with said slit end provides a limitto a width of which said channel is capable of being adjusted.
 7. Theapparatus for holding a product of claim 3 wherein said first sidemember comprises a first guide rib, and said second guide membercomprises a second guide rib.
 8. The apparatus for holding a product ofclaim 1 wherein said pusher mechanism further comprises a track, saidtrack extending along a length of said channel.
 9. The apparatus forholding a product of claim 8 further comprising a ramp at an end of saidtrack.
 10. The apparatus for holding a product of claim 8 furthercomprising a pusher tab, said pusher tab being slidably engaged withsaid track.
 11. The apparatus for holding a product of claim 10 furthercomprising a variable force coil spring, said variable force coil springbeing engaged with said pusher tab.
 12. The apparatus for holding aproduct of claim 11 wherein said variable force coil spring biases saidplurality of cigar tubos towards an end of said track.
 13. The apparatusfor holding a product of claim 12 wherein a force exerted by saidvariable force coil spring on said pusher tab decreases as said pushertab moves towards said end of said track.
 14. The apparatus for holdinga product of claim 1 wherein said plurality of cigar tubos are orientedvertically in said channel.
 15. The apparatus for holding a product ofclaim 14 wherein said plurality of cigar tubos are oriented in asubstantially strait line in said channel.
 16. An apparatus for holdinga product comprising: a) a humidor; and b) a pusher mechanism locatedwithin said humidor, said pusher mechanism having a channel, saidchannel being configured to hold a plurality of cigar tubos.
 17. Theapparatus for holding a product of claim 16, wherein a width of saidchannel is adjustable.
 18. The apparatus for holding a product of claim16 wherein said pusher mechanism further comprises a first side memberhaving a first guide rib, and a second side member having a second siderib.
 19. A method of holding a product comprising: a) configuring achannel of a pusher mechanism to hold a plurality of cigar tubos; and b)locating the pusher mechanism within a humidor.
 20. The method ofholding a product of claim 19 further comprising: a) adjusting the widthof the channel; b) sliding a plurality of cigar tubos in a firstdirection, the first direction being towards an end of the channel; andc) sliding at least one of said plurality of cigar tubos in a seconddirection.